Mini Reviews, Vol. 12

E. T. A. Hoffmann wrote some weird stuff. This is his most well-known work (written in 1816), though most people are more familiar with the ballet than the original story. The ballet smooths out some of the weird, like the seven-headed rat king, to present a more family friendly fantasy. The original is a little darker and a lot bloodier. Definitely worth revisiting come Christmas time!

I have a confession to make: I don’t really like the movie version of The Wizard of Oz. As a movie it’s always felt big and loud to me, even though I can appreciate that it’s quite good for 1939. So, as a kid, I never read the Oz books. Since the Tin Man is more or less and automaton, there are other clockwork men further in the series, and the first one was kinda fun, I’ll be dipping in and out of the series for a while.

Man, the beginning of the month was rough for me DNF-wise. I dumped a couple books off my TBR challenge list. But I settled on The Monster in the Mist. It’s was a mostly fun, steampunk-ish adventure that ran a little too long with its action scenes. The next in the series sounds way over the top, so I’m going to pass on it.

If I had a time machine, I would go back and tell myself to go see this at the theater. Arguably, the best thing about the original Blade Runner is its setting and this sequel, despite some apprehensions, nailed the setting. Plus, it’s the film for which Roger Deakins (my favorite cinematographer) finally won an Oscar. I really should have seen it on the big screen. I’m not sure I buy the plot and I didn’t care for Jared Leto as the villain, but Ryan Gosling was spot-on in the role of K. (I seem to prefer Gosling in roles where his character is fairly unemotional. See also, Drive (2011).)